Systems and methods for communicating data

Abstract

A wearable medical device includes an electrode assembly having a plurality of ECG sensing electrodes configured to monitor a cardiac condition of a patient using the device, a call button to initiate a call with a remote location and a transceiver configured to communicate information to and from the wearable medical device. The device includes a memory and a controller having at least one processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory. The instructions include receiving, via actuation of the call button, a request to initiate a communication link with the remote location, providing, via a user interface, a confirmatory prompt that the patient indicate confirmation to proceed with the request to initiate the communication link with the remote location, and initiating, via the transceiver, the communication link to the remote location responsive to the indication of the confirmation to proceed with the request to initiate the communication link.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wearable medical device comprising:
 an electrode assembly comprising a plurality of ECG sensing electrodes configured to monitor a cardiac condition of a patient using the wearable medical device; 
 a call button to initiate a call with a remote location; 
 a transceiver configured to communicate information to and from the wearable medical device; and 
 a memory; and 
 a controller comprising at least one processor communicatively coupled to the electrode assembly and the transceiver, the at least one processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to
 receive, via actuation of the call button, a request to initiate a communication link with the remote location, 
 provide, via a user interface, a confirmatory prompt that the patient indicate confirmation to proceed with the request to initiate the communication link with the remote location, and 
 initiate, via the transceiver, the communication link to the remote location responsive to an indication of the confirmation to proceed with the request to initiate the communication link, 
 wherein the confirmatory prompt comprises visual information on the user interface regarding the remote location selected by the patient to allow the patient to review the selected remote location before the communication link is initiated. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The wearable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to monitor for patient input indicating a preference to proceed with the request to initiate the communication link by actuating the call button again after the confirmatory prompt is provided. 
     
     
       3. The wearable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the confirmatory prompt comprises a warning screen displayed on the user interface prompting the patient to call a caregiver if the patient is experiencing a medical emergency. 
     
     
       4. The wearable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the call button comprises a selectable icon displayed on the user interface. 
     
     
       5. The wearable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein, after the patient initiates the call, the at least one processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to provide, via the user interface, a call screen indicating that the call has been initiated. 
     
     
       6. The wearable medical device of  claim 5 , wherein the call screen comprises an icon selectable by the patient to hide the call screen and instead display a main screen. 
     
     
       7. The wearable medical device of  claim 5 , wherein the call screen comprises an icon selectable by the patient to end the call. 
     
     
       8. The wearable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises a display screen configured as a touch screen. 
     
     
       9. The wearable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the remote location is selected by the patient from at least one of an emergency response location, a technician location, a physician location, a relative location, and a caregiver location. 
     
     
       10. The wearable medical device of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to provide, via the user interface, a plurality of selectable options that enable the patient to indicate the remote location. 
     
     
       11. The wearable medical device of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to provide the plurality of selectable options as selectable icons displayed on a screen of the user interface. 
     
     
       12. The wearable medical device of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to provide, via the user interface, a text/image based interactive communication between the patient and the remote location. 
     
     
       13. A wearable medical device comprising:
 an electrode assembly comprising a plurality of ECG sensing electrodes configured to monitor a cardiac condition of a patient using the wearable medical device; 
 a transceiver configured to communicate information to and from the wearable medical device; 
 a memory; and 
 a controller comprising at least one processor communicatively coupled to the electrode assembly and the transceiver, the at least one processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to 
 detect a pattern of the patient performing an incorrect device operation, and 
 provide the patient with an option to initiate an audio and/or video communication link with a remote location based on detecting the pattern of the patient performing the incorrect device operation, 
 wherein the wearable medical device comprises a wearable defibrillator. 
 
     
     
       14. The wearable medical device of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to provide the option to initiate the audio and/or video communication link via a user interface. 
     
     
       15. The wearable medical device of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to control the user interface to display the option on a display screen as an icon selectable by the patient via the user interface. 
     
     
       16. The wearable medical device of  claim 14 , wherein the incorrect device operation comprises incorrect patient input to the user interface of the device. 
     
     
       17. The wearable medical device of  claim 16 , wherein the incorrect patient input comprises holding a response button when a response is not required. 
     
     
       18. The wearable medical device of  claim 13 , wherein the incorrect device operation comprises a pattern of device restarts or reboots. 
     
     
       19. The wearable medical device of  claim 13 , wherein the incorrect device operation comprises at least one of not switching a battery, incorrect application or positioning of the plurality of ECG sensing electrodes, the patient not wearing or using the device in a prescribed manner, and a detected abuse event of the device comprising an impact threshold of an impact sensor in the device being triggered. 
     
     
       20. The wearable medical device of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to provide the patient with a prompt to indicate whether he or she needs to speak with someone before initiating the audio and/or video communication link. 
     
     
       21. A wearable medical device comprising:
 an electrode assembly comprising a plurality of ECG sensing electrodes configured to monitor a cardiac condition of a patient using the wearable medical device; 
 a call button to initiate a call with a remote location; 
 a transceiver configured to communicate information to and from the wearable medical device; and 
 a memory; and 
 a controller comprising at least one processor communicatively coupled to the electrode assembly and the transceiver, the at least one processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to
 receive, via actuation of the call button, a request to initiate a communication link with the remote location, 
 provide, via a user interface, a confirmatory prompt that the patient indicate confirmation to proceed with the request to initiate the communication link with the remote location, and 
 initiate, via the transceiver, the communication link to the remote location responsive to an indication of the confirmation to proceed with the request to initiate the communication link, 
 wherein the confirmatory prompt comprises a warning screen displayed on the user interface prompting the patient to call a caregiver if the patient is experiencing a medical emergency. 
 
 
     
     
       22. The wearable medical device of  claim 21 , wherein the confirmatory prompt comprises a warning screen displayed on the user interface prompting the patient to call emergency services to summon help.